“The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.”
― Barack Obama
Mitzvah Day is May 15th and there are so many opportunities to make some good things happen and to fill our world with hope. Don’t underestimate the power of this day. We are bombarded with political speeches full of hateful and discriminative rhetoric. Sometimes it feels like the world has gone crazy. Volunteering is a great way to remind ourselves that there are good people out there willing to help people in need and they can make a difference. You can be one of the great people.
Mitzvah Day is not just for Religious School families. Can you imagine the impact we could have if every congregant participated? The good news is that there is a project for every interest and every age.
Passionate about gardening? Join the Shalom Park Community Garden project.
Love to clean and spruce things up? Join the Camp Mindy cleanup project.
Do you enjoy Jewish ritual? Join the Hebrew Cemetery project – get a tour of the cemetery and help bury old and damaged sacred texts and objects.
Do you want to make a difference in the lives of the students at our partner school, Sterling Elementary? Help pack summer fun kits so that every Sterling student goes home with books, toys and treats this summer.
In the words of Shimon, the son of Rabban Gamliel: It is not what one says, but rather what one does, that makes all the difference in the world. (Pirke Avot 1:17) Please join me on Mitzvah Day and make a difference. There are so many opportunities to make some good things happen and to fill the world with hope. I don’t know about you, but I need a little extra hope these days!
